TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume V, Issue 826, 16 January 1883, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Reuter’s Telegrams.]

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.

ST. PETERSBURG

January 14,

A terrible catastrophe occurred at Berditcliev, a town of Southern Russia, in the Province of Kilo. During a crowded performance of the circus in the town a lire broke out and spread rapidly, and a general rush from the interior of the circus ensued. The exits were blocked up and many persons were trampled to death in their efforts to escape. It is estimated that fully tkreo hundred persons

perished. The scene is described as terrible. The catastrophe has created a great sensation, and is only second in magnitude to that which occurred at the burning of the Ring Theatre in Vienna in December, 1881. MELBOURNE. Jan. 15. The cricket match between the Australian team and a local eighteen concluded to-day at Ballarat. The Australians won the match in one innings, with 100 runs to spare. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington', Jan. 15. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court today, Knigge, the proprietor of the Brunswick Hotel, was fined LlO and L*2 costs, on a charge of adulterating beer with sulphuric acid. From the evidence it appeared that there was no wilful intention to adulterate, but that the jar in which the beer was sold had previously contained sulphuric acid. It is probable a charge of Sunday trading will emanate fr a rn this case. Mr Gamble, the Auckland agent of the Pacific Mail Company, and Mr Ormstcad, the special agent sent from America to make arrangements relative to the renewal of the San Francisco mail contract, arrived by the Ringarooma this morning. They will have an interview to-morrow with the Premier and the Postmaster-General, but it is understood no definite agreement can be come to until the views of the New South Wales Government are distinctly pronounced, as the matter must largely depend on the action of that Colony. New South Wales objects to the loss of time experienced in deviating to Auckland, and it is probable that the substitution of Russell as the port of call will be strongly urged on the New Zealand Government.

The man Casey, who met with a serious accident a few days ago whilst working at Kaiwarra, still lingers at the hospital. The poor fellow’s head is found to be badly injured by the boulder which fell upon it. George Alesdon, an apprentice belonging to the° ship Lady Jocelyn, met with a rather nasty accident on hoard that vessel. He was incautiously moving about in the freezing room which is in a constant state of darkness, when he suddenly toppled over the hatchway and fell a distance of ten or twelve feet, landing on some rough stone ballast; he wa3 much cut about the nose and upperlip. In the coarse of his sermon at St. Mary s Church last evening, the Rev. R. Coffey, preaching from the 9th verse of the Stb** chapter of the Acts, referred in strong terms of condemnation to the position taken up by Mr Milner Stephen with regard to his alleged powers of healing, and argued that while that gentleman mentioned persisted iu attributing the possession of his gift as direct from God for the good of mankind, for any special godly service, he put hi.nself in the position of the prophets and apostles, whose gift of power to work miracles was a credential, proving them to be messengers of God, for the exercise of which they dared not and did not receive money, and Mr Milner Stephen dare not take money for exercise of this gift (if it be a gift), without putting himself in the position of Simon, and all who countenanced him by their presence were equally guilty. The Rev. Mr Coffey mentioned that a number of persons had asked him to certify that they were not in a position to pay the fee demanded by Mr Stephen, viz., two guineas, and said lie thought such a charge would amount in a year to at least L 10,000; rather a good gift which Mr Stephen asserted had been bestowed upon him for the benefit of humanity at large, while the manner of receiving it freely was to the poor rather a humiliating way of deriving benefit from God’s gift. Greyjiouth, This Day. The St. Hilda was towed in this morning. The damage consists of her combustion box having fallen in. It is expected that the repairs will occupy a fortnight. Christchurch, This Day. Joseph Welchman, employed at Mr Seed’s flax works at Southbrook, got his right arm entangled in the scutching mill tills morning. The arm was torn completely off below the elbow. The unfortunate sufferer was conveyed to Rangiora, where he was attended by Drs Williams and Downe.

A rumor is current here that Messrs Robinson and Lance intend to proceed against the stewards of the C.J.C. Summer race meeting for the recovery of the stakes of the Midsummer Two-year-old Handicap, on the ground that they were improperly awarded to the owners of Helena. The handicap was a sweepstake of 10 sovs each, with L2OO added. Dunkdix, This Day. The engine-driver of the 10 o’clock up train to Oamaru fell off the engine shortly after leaving Palmerston. He received a severe blow on the forehead which rendered him insensible. It is supposed he missed his footing turning a sharp curve. A mm named W. E. G. Heath was arrested yesterday on a charge of committing a criminal assault on Lucy Brown, aged 8 years, at West Taieri on the 3rd inst. He was brought up at the City Police Court in the afternoon arid remanded till to-day. A man named Cowley, for a similar offence committed on a girl twelve years of age, near the Botanical gardens, has been committed for trial this afternoon. Two lads, employed in a butcher’s shop at Port Chalmers, quarrelled over a knife, and the dispute ended in one of them named White driving the knife through _ the thigh of the other,named Harnock. White was arrested and expresses sorrow for his hasty action. Auckland, This Day. Sergeant Martin and Detective Strathern continued their search in the steamer Wellington for plants of the late jewellery robbery on board that vessel. Further deposits were discovered in the bilge water in the shaft tunnel. There is still L3OO worth undiscovered.